Shipping dock for variable waterlevel usage



Dec. 7, 1943. F. VOGLER 2,336,140

SHIPPING DOCK FOR VARIABLE WATER-LEVEL USAGE Filed June 6. 1940 INVENTOR.

FRAN K VOG LER ATTORNEY6 Patented Dec. 7, 1943 SHIPPING DOCK FOR VARIABLE WATER- LEV EL USAGE Frank Vogler, Mount Vernon, IlL, assignor to The Standard Oil Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 6, 1940, Serial No. 339,158

Claims.

This invention relates to shipping docks, and more particularly those of a character used Where there is a fluctuation in water-level, as variations in river heights, tides, etc., and it i among the objects of the invention to provide a con struction which is freely responsive to waterlevel variations, while permitting transfer of material between land and boats, and which can involve buoyant members capable of performing a plurality of functions. A further object is the provision of a dock including particularly convenient means for transfer of materials by pipe line connections, such as for example in the case of oils, etc. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, thes being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a dock in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the center near the land side.

In general, the construction involves tubular 1 lar members 2, 3, for instance are in telescoped assembly, forming a hinge couple, and to the I one there is secured ground anchoring means of suitable character. For instance, anchorage element 4, 5, set in concrete beddin may b secured to the tubular element 2. For the tubular elements, large sized pipe or steel piping such as used for oil and gas pipe lines, is convenient, being very strong in proportion to its weight, and being capable of being fitted and welded with accuracy and great strength. For example, among various steel pipe size combinations which may be used, pipe sizes of seven inches and eight and three quarters inches respectively, form a convenient telescoping couple. The other portion of the hinge couple 3, forms a part of the extending framing reaching out over the water, and including transverse tubular element 8 and at least one parallel tubular element 9, the latter as the framing element at the periphery or outside adjacent the boats which are to be docked. Desirably, diagonal braces I 0 may be secured between the respective framing members 3, 8, 9, etc., and preferably these also may be of tubular stock, and particularly strong frame-formation may be had by welding. In some cases it is desirable to also apply trusses II, at least to the transverse members, such as in instances where the length of reach is to exceed forty feet or more for example. The trusses may also be of tubular elements if desired, and may be secured by weldmg.

The water-supported float portion, as noticed, of tubular members, thus involves primarily a hollow construction. Buoyancy may be added by incorporating hollow drums l2, and large metallic drums which ar very strong in proportion to their weight may be assembled with the tubular framing elements and be secured thereto in suitable manner. In one preferred construction, the tubular elements 9 etc. may be set through holes suitably cut in the drums, and the seams may be welded up structurally strong and also hermetically tight by welding. Such number of buoyancy adding drums may be applied as desired in any instance, depending upon the size of the dock to be constructed, and the character and weight of loads to be transferred over it.

Boat buffers are provided at the periphery or outer edge of the dock. And, with my construction including tubular elements, a particularly convenient combinational feature is the possi bility thereby of mounting the buffers telescopingly with the ends of the tubular members. Thus, the buifer stems it may be telescoped into the end of the transverse tubular members 8, as many as desired, and may abut against buffer spring l5 therein supported against a suitably closed heading. The buffer member it may be pivotally supported on stem I 4, and by arranging the pivot I! at an appropriate height with respect to the member to, the latter may normally swing properly vertically to engage the side of a boat. Anti-friction means or rollers it are desirably incorporated, and where using a section of I-beam, these may be mounted on axle rods secured between the flanges 2i! of th I-beam section. A freely responsive and adjusting buffer action between the boat and the dock is thus assured under all conditions.

Flooring 2| is applied to as much of the dock as desired, and preferably this may be of thick oak plank. Additional tubular supports 26 for the flooring may be provided if desired, and of the same size or smaller tubular section as preferred. Desirably, one or more hand-rails 22 may be set along lines as desired.

As a further refinement, where framing of tubular elements is involved, a combinational usage of at least a part thereof may be had, for transfer of fluids, as for example oils, etc. between land and boat. Thus, for instance the pipe line connection 23 from the land may be continued through a joint 24, swiveled, and while the piping may be set in a different plane from that of the general plane of the framing elements 2, 8, etc. if desired, in a preferred construction the tubular sections 23 and 25 are in the same plane as frame section 2 and so that the section 23 is essentially a part of the stationary land portion, and the section 25 is a part of, the vertically swingable frame extending out over the water. This allows the flooring 2: to be placed uninterruptedly over the pipe line portion. The swivel joint 24 of the pipe line may be suitably supported, as by a downwardly offsetting 2a of the tubular portion 2 at the center (see Fig. 3) to receive a support 6. At the outer end of the pipe line, it is usually desirable to have a control valve. While this may be in the plane of the pipe line, it is generally preferable, and particularly for large size pipe lines, to elevate or effect the portion 28 of the line with the valve 23. And an operator's floor 30 may be built up therearound, so as to afford access to the hand-wheel or the like M of the valve. A clean-out plug 32 is a convenience at the lower point of the pipe line, being suitably screw-threaded into place, Whereby any accumulating sediment may be cleaned out.

As readily seen from the foregoing, a boat may be secured to the dock against the buffers 55, and irrespective of the rise and fall of the waterlevel W, may be maintained in relation to the dock. It is understood that a connection, usually somewhat flexible, extends from the valve 28 for the time being into the tank-hold of the boat, and the oil or other liquid may be pumped or flowed thereinto. Thus a large hose of flexible character may be attached to the flange of the valve 29 by a bolted coupling. Conversely, in unloading, the oil or liquid is pumped or forced out through the connections and pipe line sections 25, 23, the swivel 25 allowing any change of angularity therebetween, as incurred in variations in the water-level.

Other modes of applying th principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided. the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A shipping dock comprising telescoped tubular members forming a hinge joint, landanchoring means connected to one said member and tubular framing extending from another said member over the water and including transverse and parallel tubular elements, hollow drums welded to the parallel tubular framing element for increase in buoyancy, trusses along the transverse tubular elements, diagonal braces between certain of the transverse and parallel tubular elements, flooring covering at least a part of-the framing formed by the said elements, handrailing mounted on the flooring, boat-buffers telescoping the ends of the transverse tubular elements against springs, said buffers including sections of I-beam pivotally carried to maintain a vertical position and having anti-friction rollers mounted between its flanges, a pipe line connection to one of said transverse tubular members and having a swivel joint thereto, and a control valve in connection with said transverse tubular member at its outer end and elevated above the general plane of the tubular member.

2. A shipping dock comprising telescoped tubular members forming a hinge joint, landanchoring means connected to one said member and tubular framing extending from another said member over the water and including transverse and parallel tubular elements, hollow drums welded to the parallel tubular framing element for increase in buoyancy, trusses along the transverse tubular elements, diagonal braces between certain of the transverse and parallel tubular elements, flooring covering at least a part of the framing formed by the said elements, hand-railing mounted on the flooring, boat-buffers telescoping the ends of the transverse tubular elements against springs, said buffers including sections of I-beam carried to maintain a vertical position and having anti-friction rollers mounted between its flanges, and a pipe line connection to one of said transverse tubular members and having a joint allowing movement.

3. A shipping dock comprising telescoped tubular members forming a hinge joint, land-anchoring means connected to one said member and tubular framing extending from another said member over the water and including transverse and parallel tubular elements, hollow drums welded to the parallel tubular framing element for increase in buoyancy, trusses along the transverse tubular elements, diagonal braces between certain of the transverse and parallel tubular elements, flooring covering at least a part of the framing formed by the said elements, handrailing mounted on the flooring, and boat-bufiers telescoping the ends of the transverse tubular elements against springs, said bufiers including sections of I-beam pivotally carried to maintain a vertical position.

4. A shipping dock comprising telescoped tubular members forming a hinge joint, land-anchoring means connected to one said member and tubular framing extending from another said member over the water and including transverse and parallel tubular elements, hollow drums welded to the parallel tubular framing element for increase in buoyancy, trusses along the transverse tubular elements, diagonal braces between certain of the transverse and parallel tubular elements, flooring covering at least a part of the framing formed by the said elements, handrailing mounted on the flooring, and boat-buffers telescoping the ends of the transverse tubular elements against springs.

5. A shipping dock comprising a frame of tubular members forming an included hinge joining a land-supported part and a buoyant water-supported part oscillable thereto, and connections for conducting fluid through a portion of the tubular members.

FRAN'K VOGLER. 

